Passings / Haig Kehiayan, 80 - Former L.A. jurist served for 10 years

Haig Kehiayan, 80, a retired Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, died in his sleep Tuesday at his home in Canyon Country, his family said.

After 32 years in private practice as a lawyer in Los Angeles, Kehiayan was appointed to the bench by former Gov. George Deukmejian in 1988. He served for 10 years in downtown Los Angeles, San Fernando and Lancaster and was supervising judge for three years. He stepped down in 1998 but continued to hear cases by assignment until 2001.

Kehiayan was born in Los Angeles in 1927 to Armenian immigrant parents. He served two years in the Navy before enrolling at USC. After earning a bachelor’s degree in public administration in 1950, he worked as a right of way agent for the California Division of Highways, the predecessor of the current state Department of Transportation.

Kehiayan attended night classes at Southwestern Law School; and after earning his law degree in 1955, he was admitted to the bar the next year.

He established his general law practice, specializing in real estate, small business and probate cases. He also served as president of the San Fernando Valley Bar Assn. from 1986 to 1987.